CIAA orders govt to seize lands in excess of ceiling

KATHMANDU, June 10: The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) has ordered the government to appropriate private lands in excess of the government's land ceiling.

The CIAA has asked the Ministry of Land Reforms and Management to take necessary measures to seize lands of all the individuals in excess of the land ceiling. The CIAA said it made the decision on Wednesday.

Issuing a statement, the CIAA has said a total of 5,223 bigha of land in Tarai and 6,265 ropani in the hills in 29 districts owned by various individuals are in excess of the land ceiling set by the government.

“So, the CIAA has asked the government to seize such lands in excess of the land ceiling,” Krishna Hari Puskar, spokesperson of the CIAA said.

According to the Lands Reform Act, 1964, the government can private lands in excess of the ceiling. As per the act, the land ownership ceiling is 10 bigha in Tarai, 25 ropani in Kathmandu Valley, and 70 ropani in the hills except for Kathmandu Valley. Likewise, for homestead, an individual can own up to 1 bigha in the Tarai and five ropani in the hills, according to the act.

On February 23, the anti-graft body had formed an investigation committee to study the status of implementation of recommendations made by a high-level Rawal Commission formed by the government in 1995. The commission was assigned to study the status of government-owned and public lands across the country and make recommendations for safeguarding the land. And the commission had found that 5,223 bigha in the Tarai and 6,265 ropani in the hilly regions of 29 districts were in excess of the land ceiling and should be seized.

The CIAA has also expressed serious concern with the government for not effectively implementing the recommendations made by the commission even though 21 years have passed since the commission submitted its report to the government. The body has asked the ministry to immediately implement the recommendations made by the commission.